Planting dates for Anchorage
Frost dates and sow windows from the 30-year record at Anchorage Merrill Fld, the official station 2 km from Anchorage, Alaska.
Sow and transplant events for the staples, straight from this page.
Key windows for Anchorage (2026)
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | March 20 | May 8 |
| Pepper | March 6 | May 15 |
| Peas | – | March 27 |
| Lettuce | March 6 | April 3 |
| Carrot | – | April 10 |
| Bush beans | – | May 8 |
| Garlic (longer than the average season; use short varieties) | – | Fall planted |
| Potato | – | April 17 |
Mean-date planning windows, not guarantees; watch the local forecast at the shoulders. Method on the methodology page.
Anchorage planting questions
When is the last frost in Anchorage?
Around May 1, the 30-year mean date of the last spring frost at Anchorage Merrill Fld, the official station 2 km from Anchorage. Half of years see frost after the mean, so tender crops usually wait a week or more past it.
When can I plant tomatoes in Anchorage?
Start seeds indoors around March 20 and transplant around May 8, once nights hold above 50F. The full 32-crop table on the planner computes every window for Anchorage.
How long is the growing season in Anchorage?
About 150 frost-free days on average, from roughly May 1 to September 29. Crops whose days-to-maturity exceed that window need transplants, short-season varieties, or season extension.
How this page was made
Every date above is computed from the NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals at Anchorage Merrill Fld: the 30-year mean dates of last spring and first fall frost, with crop offsets from standard horticultural practice. Full method and crop sources: data and methodology. These are planning averages, not forecasts: half of years frost later than the mean, so harden off transplants and watch the local forecast at the shoulders of the season.
More for Anchorage: winter tire dates. Need every crop, or a different place? The full calendar covers 32 crops at 2697 stations.